Cape Canaveral, Fla. – NASA officials reassured the public that the Boeing Starliner crew, currently stranded at the International Space Station due to spacecraft issues, are not in danger. Despite facing mechanical problems that resulted in their indefinite stay at the space station, commander Butch Wilmore and co-pilot Sunita Williams are safe.
The crew was scheduled to return on June 13 after a week at the space station. However, issues with the craft’s thrusters and helium leaks during docking postponed their return indefinitely as engineers work to resolve the problems.
Steve Stich, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program manager, emphasized during a teleconference that a specific return date cannot be determined until testing is completed. The return module of the Starliner spacecraft docked at the ISS’s Harmony module, but limited fuel in Harmony has narrowed the window for a return date.
Boeing’s service module, which houses critical system components like thrusters and helium lines, will burn up in the atmosphere upon re-entry. Engineers are keen to study the failed systems before destruction to gather valuable data for future flights.
Despite facing criticism in the media, Stich and Mark Nappi, Boeing’s Starliner program manager, maintained that Wilmore and Williams are not stranded and are in no immediate danger. Nappi emphasized the successful test flight and the spacecraft’s good condition.
The Starliner craft launched with a known helium leak, which worsened as the craft attempted to dock. Valve closures at the station prevented additional leaks, but reopening them during departure will be necessary. Engineers are working to ensure the integrity of the helium system for the return journey.
Issues with the thrusters during approach to the space station will also be investigated through ground tests on an identical thruster at a NASA facility in New Mexico. The tests are expected to last a couple of weeks.
Boeing’s history of technical challenges, including incidents with their 737 MAX planes, has raised concerns about the company’s reliability in space missions. However, NASA officials remain optimistic about resolving the current issues with the Starliner craft to ensure the safe return of the crew.